Richmond (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Richmond (city) is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Richmond (city). Richmond (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. Construction employs 5,780, down 2.2% since 2019. Employers here counted 167,843 jobs in 2025, up 5.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Richmond (city)
Richmond (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Richmond (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 226,927 | 237,257 | ▲ 4.6% | 9th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 158,794 | 167,843 | ▲ 5.7% | 37th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $63,991 | $87,347 | ▲ 36.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,909 | 5,780 | ▼ 2.2% | 67th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 861 | 778 | ▼ 9.6% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 94 | 144 | ▲ 53.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 4.0% | ▲ 1.0pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 778, down 9.6% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $76,426 a year. 237,257 people live here, up 4.6% since 2020, 9th of 133 Virginia counties by population.
Who powers Richmond (city)
No operating power plant is located in Richmond (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Richmond (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 167,843 | $87,347 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 5,780 | $87,454 | 0.65 |
| Electrical contractors | 778 | $76,426 | 0.64 |
| Electric utilities | 194 | $127,004 | 0.43 |
| Data processing and hosting | 144 | $110,309 | 0.28 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Richmond (city)
2 data centers in Richmond (city) are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Richmond (city) and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Richmond (city), Chesterfield County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond (city) | 237,257 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Henrico County | 342,775 | ▲ 0.4% | 398 MW | 20 MW | 29 | — |
More of Virginia
Richmond (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Richmond (city)?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Richmond (city).
What county is Richmond, VA in?
Richmond is in Richmond (city), Virginia. About 237,257 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Richmond (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 167,843 jobs in 2025 against 158,794 in 2019 (+5.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 5,909 to 5,780.
Does Richmond (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Richmond (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.